Dispenser



J. Q. FRIEND May 29, 1956 DISPENSER Filed Dec. 11, 1953 INVENTOR of Q five/m W United States Patent 6 DISPENSER Justice vQ. Friend, Charleston, W. Va.

Application December 11, 1953, Serial No.- 397,721

ZJClaims. (Cl. 222-517)- This invention relates to an automatically closable spillproof dispenser.

The invention is more particularly concerned with a dispenser in the nature of a sitter for the dispensing of salt, pepper and similar granular materials.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for salt, pepper and the like, characterized by a perforated sifting cap and an automatically closable hood for preventing inadvertent sifting of the contents of the dispenser.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for salt, pepper and the like which is characterized by a plurality of compartments for the reception of different materials to be dispensed and wherein provision is made for dispensing material separately from either compartment while preventing inadvertent dispensing from either of the compartments.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevational view partly broken away, and in section and disclosing the dispenser in accordance with a preferred structural embodiment thereof.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the top portion of the dispenser illustrated in Fig. l with the pivoted hood in one of its open positions.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the dispenser illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the hood.

Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but being partly in section and with the hood removed.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the dispenser illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a vertical axial sectional View of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the dispenser body is designated in its entirety as 10. The body 10 may be constructed from any desired material including metal and thermo-plastic and same includes a major generally frustoconical base portion 11 and a top portion or cap 12 which is of generally semi-spherical form.

The base portion is unitary with the cap and a circumferential flange 13 encircles the base portion 11 adjacent its junction with the cap.

The bottom of the base portion 11 is open for filling thereof and suitable closure means is provided for closing said bottom.

The closure means in accordance with a satisfactory embodiment thereof comprises a disk 14 which is pro vided with a circumferential rib 15 receivable Within a corresponding channel 16 in the inner wall of the base portion 11.

This construction provides for a snap-action in the placing of the closure and in order to retract same, it is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed pry tongues 17 which are receivable in corresponding notches 18 in the lower end of the wall of the base portion 11.

The closure means may, however, embody other constructions, as e. g, a screw threaded plug.

The dispenser body 10 is provided with a diametrical partition 18 'which extends from the plane of the upper surface of the disk 14 to the top of the cap 12 and which together with the walls of the body portion 11 and cap 12 provides a pair of material receiving compartments C, C, within the dispenser body.10 and which compartments may receive different materials such as salt and pepper or like materials of diiferent sizes.

The dispenser is, however, more particularly adapted for table'use and wherein the compartments C, C areprovided with salt and pepper respectively adapted to be dispensed therefrom.-

The cap 12 is provided with two quadrant areas of apertures 19 and 20 which communicate with the respective compartments C, C, the said apertured areas being separated by a diametrical band 21.

The invention comprises novel means for preventing inadvertent sifting of the dispenser contents as well as providing for the dispensing of the contents of either compartment C, C but not both, at the same time. Such means comprises a hood 22 which is substantially of the form of a quarter of a hollow sphere and has a dimension fore and aft slightly greater than the combined widths of the apertured areas 19 and 20 for a purpose later to appear.

The hood 22 is pivoted at its opposed apices 23 by means of a pintle 24 which extends through said apices, the cap 12 and into the partition 18.

The flange 13 includes diametrically opposed horizontal top walls 25 which provide stops for the hood 22 when either perforated quadrant 19, 20 is uncovered thereby, upon rotation thereof about the pintle 24.

The flange 13 is further provided with diametrically opposed depressed portions 26, each of which is provided with an upwardly opening pocket 27 in which is received a U-bend 28 of a resilient spring 29 having opposed legs 30 operatively engaged with the opposite edges of the hood 22. The spring may be formed of wire or it may be shaped from a strip of flat spring steel.

The springs 29 are normally of U or hair pin form and when mounted as in Figure 1 they act to normally hold the hood 22 in centered position with both areas 19, 20 of dispensing apertures covered whereby the contents of the compartments C, C cannot be inadvertently sifted.

The springs 29, however, permit the hood to be pivoted to the position of Figure 2 or to a position at angular range thereto whereby dispensing area 19 or 20 will be exposed and the springs 29 will automatically return the hood to its normal position in Figure 1 upon release of effort on the hood.

The upwardly opening pockets 27, being of a correct size and the proper sequence of installation of the springs 29 in said pockets, followed by the positioning of the hood 22 on the pintle 24 provides for the permanent retention of the springs 29 and the positioning of the same so as to properly provide a complete closure of both orifice sections when manual pressure is not applied to move the pivoted hood in either direction.

The hood is preferably provided with finger engaging manipulating fins 31 and the hood is arrested in its above referred to movements by the stop walls 25. The hood 22 may have indicia thereon, such as the letters P and S which indicate that pepper and salt are located in the respective compartments C, C.

A modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 7 and which comprises a screw cap portion 12 integral with the cap 12 and which portion is adapted for connection wtih a conventional dispenser. While this construction does not provide for alternate dispensing of different materials from a single dispenser body, it does, however, provide for inadvertent sifting of material from a conventional dispenser.

While I have disclosed my invention in accordance with certain specific structural embodiments thereof, such is to be considered as illustrative only, and not restrictive, the scope of tie invention being defined in the sub-joined claims.

What I claim and desired to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. In a material sifting dispenser, an elongated hollow body member open at its top, a semi-spherical cap removably secured on the upper open end of the body member, said cap having a plurality of material dispensing apertures therein, a hood of segmental form overlying said cap and pivotally connected thereto, a circumferential flange extending outwardly from the body member adjacent the base of said cap, and yieldable means disposed externally of said cap and being engaged with said hood operative to bias the same to neutral aperture covering position While permitting the hood to be moved i flange comprises diametrically opposed plane upper walls defining stops for said hood in its aperture uncovering movement, and said flange further comprises diametrically opposed depressed portions in which said recesses are disposed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,391,096 Copen Sept. 20, 1921 2,185,576 Tarantolo Jan. 2, 1940 2,234,749 Doucette Mar. 11, 1941 2,391,345 Punte Dec. 18, 1945 2,502,449 Garberding Apr. 4, 1950 2,511,038 Bergeron June 13, 1950 

